BirdWing volunteers Hilary Stollery (left) and Lyn MacDonald return the revived ducks to Western Springs yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell
The SPCA is vowing to track down the "wild fowl hater with a screw loose" who poisoned 100 birds at Western Springs in Auckland - and may do forensic tests on a discarded container found at the scene.
Forty ducks, geese, swans, pigeons and pukeko died after eating
grain laced with alphachloralose on Monday. A further 60 were treated by the SPCA's BirdWing recovery centres.
The fast-acting poison was scattered on grass around Western Springs but so far police have few leads as to who dispersed it.
A discarded poison box found in a rubbish bin may be submitted for forensic testing but it is difficult to know how many people have handled it, besides the culprit.
SPCA inspectorate manager David Lloyd-Barker said that despite the lack of leads, the society was confident it would find the culprit.
"It is clear that the targeting of Western Springs where these birds reside is the act of someone whose intentions were clearly mischievous and totally cruel," he said. "We intend to find the culprit and prosecute, and any assistance the public can render will be greatly appreciated."
Mr Lloyd-Barker said the person probably lived near Western Springs.
"I think it's got to be someone local, someone who has a total hatred of wild fowl and obviously someone who has a screw loose."
The SPCA planned to canvass the area in the hope locals would recall something or that the culprit had spoken to someone who might pass on the information.
While one further pukeko was found suffering yesterday morning, most of the affected birds were picked up on Monday afternoon.
Auckland SPCA chief executive Bob Kerridge has renewed his call for the withdrawal of alphachloralose from public sale.
"We first approached the Environmental Risk Management Authority in 2002 following an incident in Auckland's CBD where poisoned birds literally fell from the sky," he said.
"Despite ongoing approaches, no action has yet been taken.
"Perhaps this mass slaughter at Western Springs will provide the necessary incentive to keep this poison from the public from now on."
The poison is used to control sparrows, pigeons, blackbirds, mynahs and magpies.
